lifestyle, travel This is Cozumel

 

Cozumel will put the clocks back an hour tonight, along with the rest of Mexico.

However, the clocks don't change in the U.S.A. and Canada until November 4, 2012, so next week the island will be one hour behind CST and two hours behind EST.

This is especially important for cruise ship passengers, as their ship time may be an extra hour ahead of local island time when they arrive.

Different cruise lines have different ways of deciding what time their cruise ships take.

Carnival cruise ships, for example, always go with the time of their homeport and stick with it, whereas Norwegian cruise ships change their onboard time during the voyage, to match the local port they are arriving to.

The itineraries they give passengers display ship times, so cruisers should remember this isn't necessarily the same as Cozumel time.

A new Mexican law is also planned that will mean Cozumel and the surrounding state of Quintana Roo create a separate new time zone and synchronize their clocks with Florida.

The proposal has already received approval by one chamber of the Mexican government and is just waiting for approval by the other before it can take effect, which could be before the clocks change again next spring.

If you're visiting soon on a cruise and are confused, don't worry! Here's a quick reference guide to help you work out what time it is...

Arrival to Cozumel Carnival from Florida Carnival from Texas Norwegian RCCL, Celebrity and others.
Oct. 28, 2012 - Nov. 4, 2012 2 hrs ahead. e.g. 10am onboard is 8am in Cozumel. 1 hr ahead. e.g. 10am onboard is 9am in Cozumel. Same as Cozumel time. Varies, check with cruise line or contact us.
Nov. 4, 2012 - Mar. 10, 2013 1 hr ahead. e.g. 10am onboard is 9am in Cozumel. Same as Cozumel time. Same as Cozumel time. Varies, check with cruise line or contact us.
Mar. 10, 2013 - Apr. 7, 2013* 2 hrs ahead. e.g. 10am onboard is 8am in Cozumel. 1 hr ahead. e.g. 10am onboard is 9am in Cozumel. Same as Cozumel time. Varies, check with cruise line or contact us.
Apr. 8, 2013 - Oct. 27, 2013* 1 hr ahead. e.g. 10am onboard is 9am in Cozumel. Same as Cozumel time. Same as Cozumel time. Varies, check with cruise line or contact us.

* This will change if the new Mexican law is approved, follow our Cozumel news for updates.

Find out about Cozumel tours for cruise ship passengers or more about Cozumel cruises and cruise lines in general.

Disclaimer: we confirmed this information at the time of writing but cruise lines may change their policies, so please use this information as a guide only and check with your cruise line if you want to be sure.